The Ford Barn

Ziggster · 12-19-2020, 06:50 PM

After bead blasting my aluminum intake, I noticed several "cracks" or "fissures". I'm guessing they are just cosmetic, but thought I should ask what others think. I'll be painting it with this...

Ziggster · 12-19-2020, 06:51 PM

Next pic...

Ziggster · 12-19-2020, 06:54 PM

Paint...

frnkeore · 12-19-2020, 06:57 PM

Nothing to worry about with those. They are just surface, irregularity's.

Lawson Cox · 12-19-2020, 07:48 PM

You are going to paint your aluminum intake GOLD or bronze? To each his own I reckon. (I agree. Those do not look like cracks to me. What do those areas look like on the underside??

Ziggster · 12-19-2020, 07:56 PM

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Haha! No, painting the intake "natural" aluminum. The damn lighting in my shop gives it that bronze glow.

deuce lover · 12-20-2020, 02:39 AM

Did you blast the underside also?

51 MERC-CT · 12-20-2020, 05:10 AM

[QUOTE=Ziggster;1964653]Haha! No, painting the intake "natural" aluminum. The damn lighting in my shop gives it that bronze glow.[/QUOT]

A perfect example of why you can't post a picture of a car and expect someone to identify it's color.

Ziggster · 12-20-2020, 05:34 AM

Yep. I just installed two 4,500 lumen LED shop lights in my garage. What a huge difference. I can now finally see!
Yes, I did blast the underside. I was going to paint it last night, but while giving it another go over, I discovered some areas still covered in grease/dirt where the generator mount is located. There was what appeared to be a wasp nest and dirt inside one of the runners, and I had a hell of a time trying to get that stuff out. Still not comfortable with the state of cleanliness. Will do another "touch up" job in the cabinet and will "hose out" all the passages.

deuce lover · 12-20-2020, 06:27 AM

Okay,Here is my take on bead blasting the underside. It happened to an engine I know of that was rebuilt. The abrasive that got imbeded in the porous aluminum began trickling down into the valley and into the cylinders,hence virtually ruined the bores.The engine had to come apart and redone.The intake was then hot tanked and steam cleaned to purge out the abrasives.

Ziggster · 12-20-2020, 11:33 AM

That is a damn shame about the engine. I've got my engine next to my blast cabinet, which I know is really not good. I've covered the engine up with a large hefty garbage bag, and there is a very fine dust covering the bag from media escaping from the cabinet.

Ziggster · 12-20-2020, 02:36 PM

Damn wasp nest is still in there. Holy hell!

JSeery · 12-20-2020, 10:28 PM

OK, I have to ask, why would you ever consider blasting a block? IMO it will never be usage after that without a whole lot of work. What is the point? Very fine particles get left behind that are very difficult to remove no matter what you try. They are abrasive and will work there way out and into the oil etc and eat an engine up in short order. You are missing wasp nest and grease deposits how do you expect to locate extremely fine particles. This is a very, very bad idea.

Ziggster · 12-20-2020, 11:15 PM

Haha. Not blasting my block. Engine is complete (short block). It is under wraps but is next to my blasting cabinet. Was blasting out the intake at the edge of my garage door while it was dark out last night. Was going to pressure wash it today, but also ran out of daylight. Will carry on tomorrow.

JSeery · 12-20-2020, 11:20 PM

Ok, sorry for the panic attach.

yep, I reread your post, must be past my bedtime!!

12-19-2020, 06:57 PM	#4
frnkeore Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 782	Re: Factory aluminum intake casting "cracks"? Nothing to worry about with those. They are just surface, irregularity's. __________________ Frank '35 Ford Model 51 '48 Ford F3 '54 Ford Tudor Mainline

12-19-2020, 07:48 PM	#5
Lawson Cox Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Above the gnat line in Georgia Posts: 7,009	Re: Factory aluminum intake casting "cracks"? You are going to paint your aluminum intake GOLD or bronze? To each his own I reckon. (I agree. Those do not look like cracks to me. What do those areas look like on the underside?? __________________ Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer to the end, the faster it goes. It is better to be seen, than viewed. "We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm".

12-19-2020, 07:56 PM	#6
Ziggster Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Ottawa, ON Posts: 850	Re: Factory aluminum intake casting "cracks"? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Haha! No, painting the intake "natural" aluminum. The damn lighting in my shop gives it that bronze glow.

12-20-2020, 02:39 AM	#7
deuce lover Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern France Posts: 5,301	Re: Factory aluminum intake casting "cracks"? Did you blast the underside also?

12-20-2020, 05:34 AM	#9
Ziggster Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Ottawa, ON Posts: 850	Re: Factory aluminum intake casting "cracks"? Yep. I just installed two 4,500 lumen LED shop lights in my garage. What a huge difference. I can now finally see! Yes, I did blast the underside. I was going to paint it last night, but while giving it another go over, I discovered some areas still covered in grease/dirt where the generator mount is located. There was what appeared to be a wasp nest and dirt inside one of the runners, and I had a hell of a time trying to get that stuff out. Still not comfortable with the state of cleanliness. Will do another "touch up" job in the cabinet and will "hose out" all the passages.

12-20-2020, 06:27 AM	#10
deuce lover Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern France Posts: 5,301	Re: Factory aluminum intake casting "cracks"? Okay,Here is my take on bead blasting the underside. It happened to an engine I know of that was rebuilt. The abrasive that got imbeded in the porous aluminum began trickling down into the valley and into the cylinders,hence virtually ruined the bores.The engine had to come apart and redone.The intake was then hot tanked and steam cleaned to purge out the abrasives.

12-20-2020, 11:33 AM	#11
Ziggster Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Ottawa, ON Posts: 850	Re: Factory aluminum intake casting "cracks"? That is a damn shame about the engine. I've got my engine next to my blast cabinet, which I know is really not good. I've covered the engine up with a large hefty garbage bag, and there is a very fine dust covering the bag from media escaping from the cabinet.

12-20-2020, 10:28 PM	#13
JSeery Member Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 16,132	Re: Factory aluminum intake casting "cracks"? OK, I have to ask, why would you ever consider blasting a block? IMO it will never be usage after that without a whole lot of work. What is the point? Very fine particles get left behind that are very difficult to remove no matter what you try. They are abrasive and will work there way out and into the oil etc and eat an engine up in short order. You are missing wasp nest and grease deposits how do you expect to locate extremely fine particles. This is a very, very bad idea.

12-20-2020, 11:15 PM	#14
Ziggster Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Ottawa, ON Posts: 850	Re: Factory aluminum intake casting "cracks"? Haha. Not blasting my block. Engine is complete (short block). It is under wraps but is next to my blasting cabinet. Was blasting out the intake at the edge of my garage door while it was dark out last night. Was going to pressure wash it today, but also ran out of daylight. Will carry on tomorrow.

12-20-2020, 11:20 PM	#15
JSeery Member Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 16,132	Re: Factory aluminum intake casting "cracks"? Ok, sorry for the panic attach. yep, I reread your post, must be past my bedtime!!

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